The Yellow House School, Bethesda

Program The Yellow House School is a bilingual, inclusive preschool program for children ages 2-5 (turning 2 by August 31 of the current school year). We include children with disabilities because disabilities are a natural part of life and much research has shown inclusion to be beneficial for children with and without disabilities. Our program runs from 8:30-3:30, daily. Our program runs from September through June. Our class size is capped at 11, so all children will be able to receive individual attention from the two highly qualified classroom teachers. Our program is bilingual, with one teacher speaking English and one speaking Spanish. Curriculum Our program is play-based and follows the interests of the children. We do not use one, set, “boxed” curriculum with our students. Due to our many years of experience in working with young children, we have discovered that no one program is best able to help in the planning of daily activities and lessons. Instead, we have chosen the best components of programs and commercial curricula to supplement our own knowledge about what children need to be successful learners. Our instruction is based on themes and overall ideas, to be selected by the teachers, based on the interests of the students. We will utilize the Handwriting Without Tears program, Social Thinking Curriculum, Reggio Emilia philosophy, and more About the Director Julia Hart was born in the DC area and has lived in Montgomery County for her whole life. The Yellow House school is located just a few doors down from the house where she grew up (and where her parents still live!). Julia began volunteering and working in local preschools at the age of 11. She has worked with young children ever since. Julia received her Bachelors of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Boston University in 2008. She spent the next seven years as a preschool teacher at St. Columba’s Nursery School. At St. Columba’s, Julia taught inclusive preschool classes, with 10-15% of her students having a disability. In 2015, she completed her Masters of Art degree in Early Childhood Special Education from The George Washington University. She spent the next four years as an early childhood special education teacher with Alexandria City Public Schools. In Alexandria, she taught a classroom of eight children with disabilities and four typically-developing peer models. She also completed developmental assessments and initial evaluations for special education services. In 2019, Julia returned to St. Columba’s Nursery School. Julia lives in the yellow house with her foster sons, age 1.